BY A. J. TAYLOE, F.L.S., F.E.G.S. 43 



of working . . . The sphere of their action extends to 

 almost every detail connected with the labour of the workman 

 and the well-being of his everyday life.'* 



Such aims and objects as these must necessarily have a 

 tendency for good, and if in striving to give effect to the 

 ideals they " stretch lame hands of faith to reach " the 

 Trade Unions sometimes get caught in the eddies of the flow- 

 tide of Social Evolution, the experience is wholesome, and 

 must be recognised as an essential factor in their progress. 

 In this fact lies our hope for the future. Each mistaken 

 effort of misused strength in the past has taught them 

 lessons of wisdom that will certainly be takeu advantage of, 

 and turned to good account in the future. Every conflict 

 that now takes place between Capital and Labour, and all 

 the experience of the troublous past, goes to demonstrate 

 beyond any room for doubt that the objects and aims of 

 Trade Unions must be attained peaceably, or not at all ; 

 that their work must be carried out upon constitutional 

 lines, and must find a response in the National Conscience if 

 it is to bear the fruit they hope to pluck. 



In the fact that the Unions must, as a matter of experience, 

 get to recognise these truths, lies our guarantee of the benign 

 influence that associative trade effort is likely to exercise in 

 the future. 



It will be remembered that in my opening remarks I 

 referred to the broadening of the ties of kinship into a 

 realisation of the duties between man and man that finds 

 expression in a brotherhood based on the foundations of 

 social duties and relationship. 



In the gradual evolution of the highest civilisation there 

 must necessarily be different phases of social relationship. The 

 phase we have now entered upon is being largely moulded and 

 shaped by the influence of Trade Unionism, and I do not think 

 there is anything to regret in our forced admission of this 

 fact. For, if the human race is progressing, and not retro- 

 grading, then, surely, the recognition of the fact that Trade 

 Unions have become important factors in the develoj^ment of 

 a higher civilisation is sufficient demonstration in itself that 

 the tendency of Trade Unionism is for good and not for evil. 



The more immediate tendency of associative effort on the 

 part of the working classes appears to my mind to lie in the 

 direction of a fairer apportionment of the world's wealth, 

 and a wider recognition of equality and brotherhood than 

 has yet been realised in the world's history. 



The present strife between Capital and Labour cannot 

 continue for ever. Each conflict has but served the purpose 

 of bringing the contending parties closer together, and the 

 time cannot be far distant when they shall stand face to face, 



